A two year lucrative contract attached to no commitment, national head coach Abraham Mebratu appeared shy of speaking against the domination of foreign footballers in particular goal keepers. There are only two sides without any foreign players while 14 out of 16 sides employing foreign goal keepers each boasting an average of three players.
The foreign strikers may not be real threat to Abraham since the home grown locales are the one performing by far better than the imports in their respective sides. Amanuel G/Kidan of Mekele leads the top scorers’ chart with 14 goals followed by Addis Gidey with 13 and Mekelakya’s Menyelu Wondemu with eleven goals.
On the other hand there appeared no goal keeper that stands taller than others for there are only two goalies currently active. Upcoming Sidama goal keeper Coffee’s Lealem Berhanu decaying on the reserve bench since joining Saint George last season, Abraham is left with no option other than taking in the only two goal keepers regularly in line for their teams. But Abraham kept quiet to voice his concern of the threat to the public.
Abraham could have advised Lealem to look for a club that could give him a chance to regular play or advice Saint George to lend him to another club so that he could stay active and fit. But charming and diplomat Abraham appeared cautious of antagonizing the clubs as well the Football Federation that appears oblivious about the chronic problem. Nevertheless the problem is growing and no one charge in addressing it the proper way. As usual lucky Abraham once again saved from hell for Ethiopia lost the chance of staging 2020 CHAN Championship. Therefore he is hardly under pressure to get worried about Ethiopian goal keepers.
Having no capable goalkeeper appears not a problem to Abraham Mebratu
Mekele, Fasil title favorites; Sidama an outsider
The 2018 Ethiopian Premier League season coming close to come to an end, the title race turned out to be amongst regional clubs. Record champions Saint George is the only side from Addis Ababa among the five regional sides’ contesting for the trophy. Mekele Seba-Enderta from Tigray, Fasil Town from Gondor, Sidama Coffee from Southern Region and Jimma based defending champions Jimma AbaJifar are the four regional clubs are teams in contention of the title.
Top table Mekele appears to face difficult times to come. It has four away remaining matches: against third in the table Sidama Coffee, defending champion Jimma AbaJIfar, popular side Ethiopia Coffee and down in the standings Mekelakya. Except The Army side the rest three are tough under takings that could make life difficult for Mekele. The home matches are against humble sides: Hawasa, Debub Police and Diredawa.
In the meantime second place Fasil’s face Wolayta Dicha, Adama Town and Sehul Shere away while entertaining Welwalo, AbaJifar, Bahedar and Giorgis at home. Considering Fasil’s current consistency, the comparison tends in favor of it. Life appears easier for Fasil.
Third in the table Sidama Coffee is considered an outsider for it is already eight points behind the leader Mekele. Although its away matches appear easier; Ethiopia Coffee, Dedebit and Mekelakeya, facing at home Mekele, Welwalo, Diredawa and a derby match against Debub Police, its title dream once again to wait for another season. But no other team to stands as the season’s surprise package than Sidama.
Considering its inconsistency plus lack of a strike force, fifth place Saint George’ title dream is a far fetching reality. Of course bottom of the table Dedebit and Fasil Town are the only matches outside Addis. But the problem is the record champions are not up to their previous standard therefore even could be tested in the home fixtures against: Debub Police, Mekelakya, Diredawa, Welwalo and Wolayta Dicha. Forget not Giorgis is ten points behind the leaders.
Though coming late in to the title race, defending champions Jimma AbaJifar has also a chance of a miraculous back-to-back title if it stays consistent while the other contenders taking nap for some time. Okiki Afolabi’s return made a huge impact but unlikely to go all the way through the remaining seven matches. Fasil, Dicha and Baherdar are away while Hawassa, Mekele, Ethiopia Coffee and Debub Police are the visitors. More in need of divine intervention than a mathematical probability.
Adama close to women’s 2018 trophy
Final before Cup final Ethiopian Women first division showdown between host Adama Town and visitors Ethiopia NegedBank ended in a 2-1 victory to the home side thus Adama firmly gripping one hand of the coveted trophy.
Banks Coach Berhanu Gizaw suggesting two days before that his worry was more about the referring than their encounter, the showdown turned out one of the best in the season with Adama Town deservedly winning in a 2-1 score line. Dominating in ball possession as well creating chances, the home side took the lead at the half hour mark through Senait Bogale then the winning goal from Senaf Wakuma eight minutes before the whistle. Rehima managed to pull an equalizer fifteen minutes in to the second half but hardly to save the day for the former twice champions.
Following the result wrestled out the league top spot from Banks to take the driving seat with 52 points while the losers sitting second a point behind. The win was more than three points for the season is two fixtures to go therefore Adama Town already claiming the trophy’s one hand despite remaining matches. Berhanu’s worry never materialized for both sides praised Federal arbiter Binyam Hailu for his genuine performance.
“It is a proud moment for Adama for we won the fierce showdown against rival NegedBank at the same time coming to the closest to the dream championship title. Just two matches to go before party time” remarked a player who felt never happier before.
Hadiya-Hosana commands Super League Group “C”
Despite an away draw against lowly side Negele, Hadiya-Hossana appeared to be destined to return to the Ethiopian Premier League after three seasons battling at Super League. Hadiya tops group (C) with 35 points followed by regional arch rival Arbaminch Town that lost an away faceoff against hosts Bench-Maji.
A hard fought one all away draw against hosts Negele, Coach Girma Bekele’s Hossana proved to be a side ready to get tougher when the going gets tough. Team skipper Tegestu Abera’s saved the day with an important equalizer seven minutes before the final whistle gone. Ten wins, five draws and a single defeat, Hossana collected 35 points that is six points clear of runner-up Arbaminch Town. Scoring twenty-five goals while conceding ten, Hossana has a strong strike force as well a strong defense thus a balanced side in quest of Premier League promotion.
Though in strong form earlier in the season, Mesay Teferi’s Arbaminch are losing momentum since the second round. Arbaminch lost to 5th in the table home side Bench-Maji thanks for braid from second half substitute Wondemagen. Eight wins, five draws and three defeats real promotion contender Arbaminch sits second with 29 points. Praise to Timotios Arega’s double, Selte-Werabe stayed third in the table after 2-0 home victory over JImma AbaBuna. Weraba is ten points behind the leaders thus a slim chance of promoting to the top tier at the end of the season.
Butagera Town and Bishoftu Automotive are in relegation zone each with 14 and 10 points respectively.
